# NTSB WPR13CA425: Cessna M337B, N87653, Spanish Fork, UT, September 12, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 12, 2013, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Spanish Fork, UT - Coordinates: 40.138889, -111.658607 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1389&lon=-111.6586&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 4, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88142 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA425 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88142/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88142 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA425 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly manage fuel which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of power to the forward engine. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna M337B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2075708), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna M337B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=2075708), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna M337B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2075708), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna M337B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2075708), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that on the day of the accident, he elected to fly with a light, and slightly uneven, load of fuel to accommodate for the extra equipment and people onboard. During the low altitude flight, the pilot was not transferring fuel from the right wing fuel tanks to the left wing fuel tanks. Subsequently, the left wing fuel tanks ran empty and the forward engine lost power. The pilot elected to land in a nearby corn field. During the landing, the airplane's forward engine firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engines that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that on the day of the accident, he elected to fly with a light, and slightly uneven, load of fuel to accommodate for the extra equipment and people onboard. During the low altitude flight, the pilot was not transferring fuel from the right wing fuel tanks to the left wing fuel tanks. Subsequently, the left wing fuel tanks ran empty and the forward engine lost power. The pilot elected to land in a nearby corn field. During the landing, the airplane's forward engine firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engines that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N87653](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87653-2018-02-21), registration cancelled 2018-02-21, S/N 337M0222, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA M337B - Registry model: [Cessna M337B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-m337b) (registry code 2075708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-d) (registry code 17149, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 337M0222 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 5514 - Engines: Continental IO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Artemis Inc - Registered owner: Artemis Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 2013 - Departed: U77, Spanish Fork, UT - Destination: U77, Spanish Fork, UT - Airport: U77, Spanish Fork Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 5, 2011; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 15,000 total, 560 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 10 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: PVU, 5 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88142. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405347&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406928&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.